Pump for dispensing food products

ABSTRACT

An improved positive displacement pump for liquid or semi-liquid food products. The pump is controlled by a spool type valve and includes a product metering cylinder into which product is drawn during an intake stroke of a piston and from which product is expelled during a discharge stroke of the piston. A chamber is provided within the body of the valve having an outlet portion in which is secured a nozzle having an internal chamber communicating with the remainder of the valve chamber. The nozzle chamber has upper and lower cylindrically shaped portions of given diameter separated by an intermediate section which tapers outwardly from both upper and lower portions to an expanded diameter portion at a level between the upper and lower portions. The valve spool has a lower plunger section reciprocating within the valve body and nozzle chambers, and the plunger section has upper and lower portions matching in diameter and axial separation the respective upper and lower nozzle chamber portions. The intermediate portion of the plunger section tapers inwardly from both upper and lower plunger portions to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper and lower plunger portions. The piston and spool are reciprocated in timed relationship so that during a product intake stroke of the piston, the spool is in a lowermost position wherein both upper and lower plunger portions are positioned in sealed relationship with the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the nozzle chamber, while during a discharge stroke of the piston, and when the valve spool is in its uppermost position, the upper plunger portion is positioned above the upper nozzle chamber portion, while the lower plunger portion is positioned just below the nozzle chamber upper portion, clear of the lower nozzle portion. The valve spool is initially moved upwardly from its lowermost position before the piston initiates its product discharge stroke. A constricted annular opening is thereby defined through which product passes at an increased velocity to prevent air bubbles from rising upwardly in the outwardly moving product. The portion of the nozzle chamber below the plunger section of the valve spool provides an enlarged chamber when the valve spool is in the uppermost position, to reduce the velocity of the product as it is discharged from the nozzle into a container therebelow to minimize splashing.

United States Patent [191 St. Clair PUMP FOR DISPENSING FOOD PRODUCTS David L. St. Clair, Wilmette, 111. [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc., Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: May 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 249,111

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assistant ExaminerGregory Paul La Pointe 5 7 ABSTRACT An improved positive displacement pump for liquid or semi-liquid food products. The pump is controlled by a spool type valve and includes a product metering cylinder into which product is drawn during an intake stroke of a piston and from which product is expelled during a discharge stroke of the piston. A chamber is provided within the body of the valve having an outlet portion in which is secured a nozzle having an internal chamber communicating with the remainder of the valve chamber. The nozzle chamber has upper and lower cylindrically shaped portions of given diameter separated by an intermediate section which tapers out- Apr. 30, 1974 wardly from both upper and lower portions to an expanded diameter portion at a level between the upper and lower portions. The valve spool has a lower plunger section reciprocating within the valve body and nozzle chambers, and the plunger section has upper and lower portions matching in diameter and axial separation the respective upper and lower nozzle chamber portions. The intermediate portion of the plunger section tapers inwardly from both upper and lower plunger portions to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper and lower plunger portions. The piston and spool are reciprocated in timed relationship so that during a product intake stroke of the piston, the spool is in a lowermost position wherein both upper and lower plunger portions are positioned in sealed relationship with the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the nozzle chamber, while during a discharge stroke of the piston, and when the valve spool is in its uppermost position, the upper plunger portion is positioned above the upper nozzle chamber portion, while the lower plunger portion is positioned just below the nozzle chamber upper portion, clear of the lower nozzle portion. The valve spool is initially moved upwardly from its lowermost position before the piston initiates its product discharge stroke. A constricted annular opening is thereby defined through which product passes at an increased velocity to prevent air bubbles from rising upwardly in the outwardly moving product. The portion of the nozzle chamber below the plunger section of the valve spool provides an enlarged chamber when the valve spool is in the uppermost position, to reduce the velocity of the product as it is discharged from the nozzle into a container therebelow to minimize splash- 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PUMP FOR DISPENSING FOOD PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved pump for discharging liquid or semi-liquid food products, and particularly improvements in such pumps ofa piston type controlled by a spool type valve equipped with a dis-v charge nozzle and enabling discharge of low viscosity food products into containers passing below the nozzle without variations in volumeand in a substantially dripless manner.

Such pumps have found particular utility in highspeed multiple unit packaging machinery used, or example, to discharge semi-solid food products such as yogurt, cottage cheese or sour cream into various containers serially brought into position at a filling station under such pumps by various container transport or conveyor means, with the containers having previously been selected and dispensed on the conveyor means by as associated container dispensing mechanism. A complete packaging system of an advanced type illustrating the details of these and associated means, their manner of cooperation to produce filled containers of products in a high-speed automatic manner, as well as the contex in which product discharge pumps such as those of the present invention may be utilized, is set forth in the commonly assigned copending application of C. Byrd and M. Mueller, Process And Apparatus For Dispensing And Filling Containers, Ser. No 38,245, filed May 18, 1970 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,744. A modified pumping mechanism is disclosed in my commonly assigned copending application Ser. No filed Apr. 7, 1972. To the extent that the disclosures of these copending applications are not inconsistent with that of the present invention, they are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

The performance demands placed on such pumps particularly within the context of the referenced food packaging apparatus are quite considerable. It is highly desirable to obtain the accurate discharge into each container of a volumetrically equal amount of product with every stroke so that no container receives more or less product than any other. Furthermore, since the processing of food is involved, it is imperative to maintain the strictest sanitary standards, and indeed such standards are rigidly enforced by government inspection and regulation. Thus, it is highly important to prevent drippage between pump dispensing cycles while the containers are being moved into and out of filling station position as well as-to prevent splash during the dispensing cycle itself, since both cause unsanitary waste of produce outside the containers and on parts of the packaging machinery. Finally, in order that the packaging of such products return a reasonable profit, it is important that such volumetric packaging accuracy in speed of operation, and preferably with even greater operating speed than is normally the case.

Typical dispensing pumps have not achieved the above goals as well as the pump disclosed in the application Ser. No. 38,245 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,744 and the above mentioned St. Clair application. Pumps of the type disclosed in the former application have been found to work particularly well with relatively high viscosity food products, while maintaining a high speed of operation. Such pumps have worked extremely well to dispense a completely, or at least partially, fermented milk product, since such products typically have a relatively high viscosity and do not present dripping problems. Pumps of the type disclosed in the latter appliection have worked extremely well to dis pense a low viscosity milk product into a container with a minimum of drip and high volumetric accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved pump for transferring product, particularly food products of relatively low viscosity, from a product source to a container. The pump comprises a valve body having a valve chamber therewithin, a product inlet communicating with th product source and with the valve chamber a product outlet portion, means providing a product discharge nozzle at the outlet portion of the chamber, with the nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with the valve chamber, means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from the valve body in communication with the valve chamber, and a piston reciprocably mounted in.the cylinder. The pump also is provided with a control valve spool mounted for movement within the valve and nozzle chambers between a first position and a second position. The spool includes a control section at its lower end movable from a position preventing product from flowing from the product inlet to the cylinder in the first position of the valve spool, while allowing product to flowfrom the cylinder outwardly of the valve chamber into the nozzle chamber and outwardly of the nozzle into a container therebelow. The control section is also movable to a position allowing product to flow from the product inlet into the cylinder in the second position of the valve spool, while preventing product from flowing into the nozzle chamber. Further provided ar cooperating means on the control section of the spool-and within the nozzle chamber defining a re stricted orifice when the control spool is in its first position for increasing the velocity of he product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the discharging product. The cooperating means on the control portion of the valve spool and the nozzle chamber also define an enlarged passage below the restricted orifice for reducing product velocity to minimize splashing. The spool is shifted in timed relationship with the piston so that the piston moves away from the valve chamber in a product intake stroke when the valve spool is in its second position and th piston moves toward the valv chamber in a product discharge stroke when th valve spool is in its first position. The drive to the valve spool and piston are synchronized such that the valve spool is initially moved from the second posi-' tion toward the first position before the piston begins to move in a discharge stroke. The control section desirably includes a cylindrical portion at the lower end thereof, as well as a pair of divider tabs extending upwardly and along opposite ends of a diameter of the cylindrical portion. When the spool is in its frist position these tabs seal with the wall of the nozzle chamber to divide the outwardly flowing product so that it exhibits a cross-section in the form of spaced semicircles. This allows air displaced from a container recriveing the product to escape through the spacing without splattering product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along a vertical plane illustrating a food product pump according to th invention with its piston and valve spool located in the position they occupy at the end of a product discharge stroke;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pump of FIG. 1 with th piston and valve spool located in the position they occupy at th end of a product intake stroke;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing the relative position of the moving elements at the beginning of the product discharge stroke; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a food product pump modified to dispense smaller amounts of product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION charge pump 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 generally forms a part of a complete system working at high repetitive rates for filling containers with a semi-liquid food product. More than one product discharge pump 10 is employed in side-by-side formation, thereby to accommodate a lik plurality of containers in side-by-side row formation. Such rows of containers are serially brought into position at the filling station under the pumps by various container transport or 'conveyor means. The containers are originally placed on the conveyor from stacks by container and dispensing mechanisms associated with the conveyor. The pump 10 includes a piston 20 and product flow control valve spool 30, and in the illustrated embodiment, the former is adapted to be reciprocated in a horizontal plane,

. while the latter is adapted to be reciprocated in a vertical plane. Power drive means are respectively connected to both piston 20 and valve spool 30, and the drive means are synchronized with the drive to the conveyor, so that the pump can repetitively discharge its product into containers serially brought thereunder at a high rate.

The control valve spool 30 is slidably positioned product inlet opening 16 through body portion 7 communicating with chamber 13, as well as an opening 17 through valve body portion 8. A conduit may be communicably secured to portion 7 and inlet opening 16 leading to a source of product to be dispensed. Chamber 13 has portions defined by the interiors of the respective valve body portions; thus, portion 7 defines inlet chamber portion 14 of the given diameter, portion 8 defines intermediate chamber portion 15 of the enlarged diameter, and portion 9 defines outlet chamber protion 22.

An open-ended cylinder member 18 is secured with one end in sealed relationship to the valve body portion 8 at the inlet opening 17 through which cylinder 18 communicates with chamber portion 15. The piston 20 is positioned in sealed relationship with respect to the inner wall of cylinder 18 by means of a sealing O-ring 41 and an annular groove 42 about the circumference of the piston into which the O-ring is received. A rod 21 is connected to the piston and emerges at the end of the cylinder opposite that sealed to valve portion 8, for reciprocating the piston inwardly and outwardly relative to the intermediate chamber portion 15.

Lower body portion 9 is provided with a nozzle 25 fitting within chamber outlet portion 15, entirely lining portion 9 and extending below it beyond valve body 12, with the nozzle portion lining body portion 9 being generally of the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of portion 9. Nozzle 25 is provided with an interior nozzle chamber 26 extending axially to each end of the nozzle, communicatingat its upper and with intermediate chamber portion 15 and at its lower end with a container placed below the valve body. Nozzle 25 has upper and lower chamber portions 27 and 28, of a given diameter equal to that of inlet chamber portion 14, separated by an intermediate section 29. The latter section tapers outwardly from both upper and lower portions 27 and 28 to an expanded diameter larger than that of portions 27 and 28, at level generally between such portions, but somewhat closer to upper portion 27, there defining a cylindrically-shaped median portion 33. The intermediate section of chamber 26 thus exhibits the configuration of a pair of truncated cones, each with its base on a respective end of a centrallylocated cylinder. Each of the chamber sections of both valve chamber 13 and nozzle chamber 26 are serially in communication with each other and in axial alignment along a vertical axis.

The control valve spool 30 is mounted for reciprocating vertical sliding movement within valve chamber 13 and nozzle chamber 26. The spool includes spaced, generally cylindrically-shaped upper land areas 31 and 32, and a lower plunger section 34. Plunger 34 has upper and lower cylindrically-shaped portions 36 and 37 of equal diameter to match the given inner diameter of nozzle 25, separated by an intermediate section 38 of an axial length similar to that of intermediate section 29 of chamber 26. Section 38 has a cylindricallyshaped portion 43 midway between portions 36 and 37 with a diameter which is smaller compared to that of the cylinder portions 36 and 37 and the chamber portions 27 and 28. From portion 43, the intermediate section tapers outwardly to both upper and lower portions 36 and 37. Also provided are an opposed pair of tabs 44 which extend horizontally outwardly along a diameter from intermediate plunger section 38 even with the periphery of lower plunger portion 37 and vertically upwardly from portion 37 to a level just below portion 43.

Reduced diameter sections 45 and 46 are provided on valve spool 30 between land regions 31 and 32 and between land regions 32 and plunger 34. These sections are of lengths such that when spool 30 is being shifted (FIG. 3), either inlet chamber 14 or nozzle chamber 26 is always sealed, to prevent the product from running through the pump. Spool 30 may be moved to a lowered position wherein both upper and lower plunger portions 36 and 37 are in sealing engagement with upper and lower nozzle chamber portions 27 and 28 to seal off nozzle 25, while land region 32 enters intermediate valve chamber and is clear of inlet chamber 14.

On the other hand, spool 30 may be moved to a raised position wherein land region 32 s positioed within chamber 14 below product inlet 16, while upper plunger portion 36 together with a portion of intermediate section 38 is within chamber 15 clear of nozzle chamber 26. At the same time, the remainder of intermediate section 38 includingcylindrical median 43, is positioned within upper chamber portion 27 to define thereby a tapering downwardly constricting annular space 60 (FIG. 1). Lower plunger portion 37 is positioned adjacent intermediate nozzle chamber secton 29 to form a short tapering downwardly-opening annular space 61 which opens into the remainder of the nozzle chamber 26 lying below the raised lower plunger portion 37.

Land regions 31 and 32, together with upper plunger portion 36, are eachr resepctively provided with annular grooves 51, 52 and 53 about their respective peripheries, into which are received respective sealing O-rings 54, 55 and 56 to aid in properly sealing these spool sections within their respe tive chamber sections. In particular, sealing O-ring 56 positively engages the wall of upper nozzle chamber portion 27 in the lowered spool position to insure that nozzle is sealed off and sealing O-ring 55 positively engages the wall of chamber portion 14 in the raised spool position to insure that chamber 14 is sealed off so that no product enters cylinder 18 or chamber portion 15 during the discharge stroke.

In the lowered position of the spool with plunger 34 sealing nozzle 25, product inlet opening 16, chamber inlet portion 14, and intermediate portion 15 all communicate to provide a channel for te product to he cylinder 18. The pump is provided with means, such as disclosed in the previously referenced applications, for reciprocating both piston 20 and spool 30 in timed relationship. This relationship is such that the position 20 executes its intake stroke, i.e. travels from left to right as shown in FIG. 2, when the spool is in its lowered position, thus sucking in product around reduced spoolsections 45 and 46 and land region 32 to fill the cylinder. The piston-spool operating relationship is such means of the above described annular spaces 60 and Product from the cylinder 18 is then forced out of the cylinder by piston 20 into chamber portion 8 around reduced section 46 and upper plunger 36 and finally into nnular space 60. Piston 20 forces the product through the nozzle 25 at a predetermined volumetric rate, and since annular space 60 narrows downwardly, i.e., the cross-sectional area presented to the discharging product constantly decreases as the product moves downwardly, the velocity of the product flow within space 60 is forced to increase correspondingly. This increased velocity imparted to the product within space 60 acts as a barrier to air bubbles which would ordinarily tend to rise upwardly into the intermediate chamber 14 and cylinder 18. Such upwardly rising air of course otherwise could remain entrapped in the pump, whose internal volume is carefully calibrated, and take up a portion of the volume meant for product to result in dispensing inaccuracies. The restricted space or orifice defined within the valve when control spool 30 is in its raised position substantially obviates this problem.

At the same time, below this restricted orifice air barrier, the discharging product is allowed gradually to slow down, passing first into the outwardly opening space 61 between plunger portion 37 and chamber section 29, and then into the region of the nozzle chamber 26 below upraised plunger portion 37. This region includes the cylindrically-shaped median portion 33, which has the largest diameter of the various chamber sections. Moreover, plunger portion 37 is above median portion 33, so that the entire nozzle region below plunger 25 is devoid of restrictions. Thus the crosssectional rea presented to the discharging product increases greatly from space 61 into median portion 33 and thereafter remains large with only a minor narrowing into lower nozzle chamber portion 29, to allow the emerging product to slow even more. Such' lowering of th product velocity as it leaves nozzle 25 minimizes splattering of the product in the nozzle and in the container into which th product is dispensed, and thus unsanitary wastage of products is minimized. Yet this is accomplilshed without sacrificing the effectiveness of the air barrier provided by the high velocity tapering space 60 at an earlier point in the path of the product.

When the product finally leaves the nozzle, it flows downwardly in a circumferentially discontinuous stream, specifically, in a cross-sectional pattern with the configuration of spaced semicircles. This pattern of flow, rather than an annular cross-sectional pattern, is established because of tabs 44. In the raised position of spool 30, these are brought into sealing engagement with the wall of upper nozzle chamber portion 27, thereby dividing the lower part of the annular space 60 into two spaced halves. Thus discharging product as it flows throuh space 6 past tabs 44 is divided into the spaced semicircular patterns. Air dispensed by the product flowing into a container positioned below the valve is thereby allowed to escape th spacing.- Splattering of product which would otherwise result from displaced air escaping at random through the descending product is thus eliminated.

As the piston 20 nears the end of its discharge stroke, the valve spool 30 begins to move toward its downward position, until the nozzle 25 is again sealed the plunger 34. Product flow into the nozzle is thereby cut off, and the piston then executes its intake stroke. In th lowered position of the spool 30, lower plunger portion 34 is in sealing engagement with lower nozzle chamber portion 28, with the lower surface 35 of the portion 34 just above the lowest edge of chamberportion 28, or the bottom annular surface 19 of nozzle 25 (see FIG. 2). This leaves only a minimal surface area exposed out of the total area originally wetted by the product, and over which product originally flows during the dispensing stroke. Accordingly, with effectively no place to cling while th valve is closed during th intake stroke, product is effectively prevented from dripping from the nozzle.

The FIG. 4 embodiment is essentially the same in operation in basic design as that of FIGS. 1 through 3, with modifications so that the pump dispenses a smaller amount of product with each dispensing stroke to accommodate smaller sized containers, but with the same high rate of repetitive operation capability as the pump of FIGS. 1 through 3. The same elements appear as found in FIGS. 1 through 3, except that the nozzle chamber diameters are proportionately reduced, as are the spool and plunger diameters. The non-punger portions of the spool are of somewhat different form, and the upper valve body portion 7' is lined with a tubular sleeve 71 to accommodate the smaller diameter spool within the relatively large diameter valve.

The sleev 71 is of course of generally the same outside diameter as the inside diameter of upper body portion 7, but has a reduced given inside diameter much smaller than the outside diameter. Annular grooves 72 and 73 about the circumference of the sleeve retain selaing O-rings 74 and 75 adjacent th upper and lower ends, respectively, of the sleeve 71 to complete a tight sealing fit between sleeve and valve body. The sleeve is further retained in the valve body by an outwardly extending flange 77, which is integral with the sleeve upwards from groove 72 and which has a portion overlapping the upper surface of the valve body. Bolts 78 are screwed into valv body portion 7 immediately alongside of flange 77 so that its head 79 overlaps the upper surface of the flange to lock sleeve 71 in place within the valve body. Sleeve 71 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 55 aligned with product inlet opening 16' establishing communication between that opening and th interior of sleeve 71.

Nozzle 65 is similar to nozzle 25, except that its internal nozzle chamber 66 has upper and lower portions 67 and 68 of a reduced given diameter equal to the internal diameter of sleeve 71, with other portions of the nozzle chamber 66 varying from the reduced given diameter in the manner described for nozzle chamber 26.

The valve spool 80 includes axially elongated upper and lower land regions 81 and 82, of a diameter to match the reduced given diameter. These regions are spaced by a reduced section 83 of smaller diameter than that of regions 81 and 82. The valve spool 80 lso includes a plunger section 85, with the spacing between land regions and plunger similar to that of the FlGS. 1 to 3 embodiment. Land region 82, however extends downwardly to, and is integral with, plunger 85.

The operation of the FIG. 4 embodiment is essentially the same as that of FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same increase of velocity is imparted to the discharging product at a constricted orifice within the nozzle to bar air from rising within the pump 70. The pump at the same time also exhibits the same anti-splash and anti-drip advantages because of the minimal surface remaining for product to cling when th plunger is in its lowered position and because the velocity of the product is slowed just prior to emerging from the pump.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump for transferring product from a product source to a container comprising: a valve body having a product inlet communicating with said product source; a valve chamber within said body, said chamber having a product outlet portion, and said inlet opening into said chamber, means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body in communication with said chamber; a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder; means providing a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion of said chamber, said nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber; a rigid externally driven control valve spool mounted for constrained movement within said chambers between a predetermined fixed first position and a predetermined fixed second position, said spool including a control section movable from a position preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from flowing into the nozzle chamber through said nozzle; cooperating surfaces on the control section of said spool and said nozzle chamber defining restricted orifice means of predetermined fixed size when said control spool is in the first position of increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product; external drive means for shifting said spool in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber ina product intake stroke when sai valve spool is in said first position, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in said second position.

2. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in hich said cooperating means includes a lower portion of said control section of increasing diameter in the direction of said outlet and a constant reduced-diameter portion of said nozzle chamber, said control section lower portion being brought within said nozzle chamber portion wheh said control spool is in the first position to define a restricted orifice of predetermined size therebetween for increasing product velocity.

3. A pump as set forth in claim 12 in which said nozzle ehabmer intermediate section tapers from an expanded diameter greater than said given diameter inwardly to both said upper and lower portions, and in which said plunger intermediate section tapers from a reduced diameter smaller than that of said upper and lower plunger portions outwardly to both said upper and loweer portions, so that when said plunger is in said raised position, a downwardly tapering orifice is defined between said upper nozzle chamber portion and said intermediate plunger section.

4. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said nozzle chamber has a lower portion and said spool control section has a lower portion adaptable for sealing engagement within said nozzle chamber lower portion.

5. A pump as set forth in claim 4 in which said nozzle and said lower portion of said spool control section are provided with respective lower surfaces, and said lower portion is positioned in ealing engagement within said nozzle chamber lower portion so that said lower surfaces are at least nearly aligned with other thereby minimizing the surface from which product might drip.

6. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said cooperating means also defines an enlarged orifice downstream of the restricted orifice for decreasing the velocity of the product as it emerges from the nozzle to minimize splashing.

7. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said valve body includes a ubular sleeve positioned oaxially therein and enclosing the portion of said valve chamber upward of said cylinder-defining means from an upper portion thereof.

8. An improved pump or discharging product from a product source comprising: a valve body provided with an internal chamber including a main portion and an outlet portion, said valve body also provided with inlet means communicating with said product source and opening into said main portion of said valve chamber; means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body and having one end communicating with said inlet means; a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in said cylinder between a first position spaced from said one end of said cylinder and a second position adjacent said one end of said cylinder; means defining a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion and having an internal chamber in axial alignment and communication with said main chamber portion,

, said nozzle chamber having upper and lower portions and an intermediate section separating said upper and lower portions, said nozzle chamber upper and lower portions respectively having first and second given internal diameters, said intermediate section enlarging outwardly from at least said lower portion to a diameter larger than said lowe portion at a point between said upper and lower portions; and a valve spool having a plunger at its lower end and mounted for reciprocal movement within said valve and nozzle chambers, said valve plunger having upper and lower portions and an intermediate section between said upper and lower portions, the lower plunger portion having a diameter such that it is slidable within at least the lower nozzle chamber portion, said intermediate section narrowing inwardly from at least said lower plunger portion a a point between aid upper and lower plunger portions to a diameter smaller than said nozzle chamber upper portion, said valve spool movement occuring between a lower position wherein said lower plunger portion is located within said lower nozzle portion in sealed relationship therewith, and a raised portion wherein said upper plunger portion is clear of said nozzle chamber upper portion, and said lower plunger portion is positioned clear of said nozzle chamber lower portion and immediately under said upper nozzle portion so that an annular space is formed between plunger and nozzle having a constricted section, and spool and said piston being reciprocated in timed relationship such that with th mvement of said piston away from said first chamber toward said first position, said plunger is in said lowered position to close said nozzle and said product flows into said cylinder, and with the movement of said piston toward said first chamber to said second position, said spool is in said raised position and said product is forced from said cylinder through said chambers to be discharged from said nozzle through said annular space, said product as it passes downwardly through said constricted section of said annular spac increasing in velocity, thereby preventing air bubbles from rising within the discharging product up into said first chamber and eliminating volume due to air within said chamber in the discharge volume variations due to air within said chamber in the discharged product.

9. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which said lower portion and said intermediate section of said plunger is providyd with a pair of divider tabs extending outwardly from said intermediate section along a diameter even with th periphery of th plunger lower portion and extending'upwardly from said lower portin, said divider tabs sealing with said upper chamber portion when said plunger is in its raised position to divide the outwardly flowing product so that it exhibits the crosssectional configuration having the form of spaced semicircles.

10. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which said intermediate nozzle chamber portion includes a cylindrical section between said upper and lowe rportions of diameter larger than said lower chamber portion, and in which said plunger intermediate section includes a cylindrical portion between said upper and lower plunger portions of a diameter smaller than said upper nozzle chamber portion.

11. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which the intermediate section of said upper and lower portions of said nozzle chamber and said plunger are of similar axial height, in which said lower plunge portion is of a smaller axial height than said intermediate nozzle chamber portion, and in which said upper nozzle chamber protion is of a smaller axial height than said intermediate plunger section.

12. A pump for transferring pdoduct from a product source to a container comprising: a valve body having a product inlet communicating with said product source; a valve chamber within said body, said chamber having a product outlet portion, and said inlet opening into said chamber, means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body in communication with said chamber; a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder; means providing a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion of said chamber, said nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber, said nozzle chamber including an upper and a lower portion, and an intermediate section separating said upper and lower portions, said upper and lower portions being of a given diameter, and said section having a diameter greater than said given diameter; a control valve spool mounted for movement within said chambers between a first position and a second position, said spool including a control section movable from a position preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from lowing into the nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section including a plunger on the lower end thereof, said plunger having an upper and lower portion of diameter matching said given diameter and an intermediate section having at least one diameter smaller than that of said upper and lower plunger portions, with said plunger being lowered in said second spool position to sealingly engage said upper and lower plunger portions respectively within said upper and lower nozzle chamber portions, and with said plunger in said first spool position being raised so that said upper plunger portion clears said upper chamber portion and said lower plunger portion is positioned just below said upper chamber portion; the upper portion of said nozzle chamber cooperating with the plunger intermediate section ofthe control section of said spool to define a restricted orifice when said control spool is in the first position for increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product, with said spool being shifted in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber in a product intake stroke when said valve spool is in said first position, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in'said second position.

interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber; control valve spool mounted for movement within said chambers between a first position and a second position, said spool including a control section movable from a position preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from flowing into the'nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section including a cylindrical portion at the lower end threreof, said cylindrical con trol ortion including a pair of divider tabs extending upwardly and along opposite ends of a diameter of the cylindrical portion, said tabs sealing with the wall of said nozzle chamber when said spool is in said first position to thereby divide the outwardly flowing product so that it exhibits a cross-sectional configuration having the form of spaced semicircles; cooperating means on the control section of said spool and said nozzle chamber defining a restricted orifice when said control spool is in the first position for increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product, with said spool being shifted in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber in a product intake stroke when said valve spool is in said first posi tion, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in said second position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 18m No. I 3,807,909 Dated April 30, i974 Inventor) oavia L. St'. Clair It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the specification:

Column 1, line 11, "volumeand" .should read volume and Column 1, line 14, "or" should be for Column'l, line 53 "'Produce" should be product Column l, line 56, after the words "volumetric packaging accuracy" insert and dripless 7 operation be achieved without sacrifice Column 2, line 4, "appli'ection" should be application Column 2,-- line 7, "tere" should be there Patent No. 3,807,909 belied: April 30, 1974 Inventoms) David L. Sinclair Page 2 Colunm 2, line 21, "th" should be the Column 2, line 43 "ar" should be are Column 2', line 46, "th" should be the Column 2, line 55, "th" should be the Column 2, line 56, "valv" should be valve Column 2', line 57, "th" should be the Column 2, line 65 "frist" should be first Column .3, line 2, "recriveing" should be' receiving Column 3, line 29, "th" should be the Column 3, line 34 "th" should be the Column 3, line 37, after the word "forms" delete the word' 5.

Column 3, line 41, "lik" should be like Patent No. 3,807,909

Inventor(s) Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column David L. St.Clair line line line ; Dated April 30, 1974 v Page 3 "velve" should be valve "protion" should be portion "upperand" should be upper end insert a after the word "at".

"32 s" should be 32 is "positioed" should be "secton" should be "are eachr" should be "resep'ctively" should respectively positioned section are each 5, line 36, "respe tive" should be respective 5, line 48 "te" should be the 5, line 48, "he" should be the 5, line 52, "position" should be piston Patent n 3,807,909 Dated: April 30, 1974 Inventor(s) David L. St. Cl air Page: 4

Column line 60, "positon" should be position Column 6, line 6', "nnular" should be annular Colunm 6, line 35, "rea" should be area Column 6, .line 40, "th" should be the Column 6, line 42, "th" should be the'--.

Column 6, line 57, after the word "thus" insert the word the Column 6, line 58, "throuh" should be through Column 6, line 59, "dispensed" should be -displaced Column 6, line 61, "th" should be through Column 6, line 67, "sealed the" should be --sealed by o Column 7, line 2, "th" should be the Column 7', line 6, "chamberportion" should be Patent No. 3,807,909

Inventor (s) David L. St. Clair Dated} April 30, 1974 Page 5 chamber portion Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column 7, line l2, "th" should be 7, line 12 "th" should be the 7, line 29, "sleev" should be sleev lines 33 and 34, "selaing" should be sealing l 7, line 34, "th" should be the 7, line 41, "valv" should be valve 7,- line 47, "th" should be the 7, line 61, "lso" should be also 8, line 5, "th" should be the 8, line 37, "of" should be for 8, line 42, "ina" should be in a 8, line 42, "sai" should be said 8, line 46, "in hich" should be in which %Patent No;

Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Column line line

line

line

line

I line jline line line line line

line

Date dz April 30; 1974 Page 6 51', "wheh" should be when 57, "chabmer" should be chamber 62, "loweer" should be lower 6, "ealing" should be sealing 8, after the word "with" insert each l6, "ubular" should be tubular l6, "oaxially" should be coaxially 20, "or" should be for 41, "lowe" should be lower 51, "'a a" should be at a 52, "aid" should be said 55, "lower position" should be lowered position Patent No. 3,807,909 Dated: April 30, 1974 Inventor(s) David L. St.Clair Page 7 Column 9, line 64, "th mvement" should be the movement Column 10, line 6, "spac" should be space Column 10, 4 line 9, after the word "volume" insert the word variations Column 10, lines l0,and ll, delete "the discharge volume variations due to air within said chamber Column 10, line 14, "providyd" should be provided Column 10, line 16, "with th" should be with the Column 10, line 16, "of th" should be of the- Column 10, line 17, "portin" should be portion Column 10, line 25, "lowe rportions" should be lower portions Column 10, line 34, "plunge" should be plunger Column 10, line 37, "protion" should be portion Patent No. 3,807,909

Inventor (s) Column Column Column Column Column Column Column Dated: April 30, 1974 David L. St.Clair Page 8 10, line 39, "pdoduct" should be "product 10, line 67, "lowing" should be flowing 11, line 29, "outlet" should be valve 11, line 29, after the word "having" insert a product outlet portion, and said inlet opening into said chamber,

11, line 30, delete the word "product".

11, lines 32 and 33, "chamber" should be cylinder 12, line 2, insert a before the word "control".

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents 

1. A pump for transferring product from a product source to a container comprising: a valve body having a product inlet communicating with said product source; a valve chamber within said body, said chamber having a product outlet portion, and said inlet opening into said chamber, means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body in communication with said chamber; a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder; means providing a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion of said chamber, said nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber; a rigid, externally driven control valve spool mounted for constrained movement within said chambers between a predetermined fixed first position and a predetermined fixed second position, said spool including a control section movable from a posItion preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from flowing into the nozzle chamber through said nozzle; cooperating surfaces on the control section of said spool and said nozzle chamber defining restricted orifice means of predetermined fixed size when said control spool is in the first position of increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product; external drive means for shifting said spool in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber ina product intake stroke when sai valve spool is in said first position, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in said second position.
 2. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in hich said cooperating means includes a lower portion of said control section of increasing diameter in the direction of said outlet and a constant reduced-diameter portion of said nozzle chamber, said control section lower portion being brought within said nozzle chamber portion wheh said control spool is in the first position to define a restricted orifice of predetermined size therebetween for increasing product velocity.
 3. A pump as set forth in claim 12 in which said nozzle chabmer intermediate section tapers from an expanded diameter greater than said given diameter inwardly to both said upper and lower portions, and in which said plunger intermediate section tapers from a reduced diameter smaller than that of said upper and lower plunger portions outwardly to both said upper and loweer portions, so that when said plunger is in said raised position, a downwardly tapering orifice is defined between said upper nozzle chamber portion and said intermediate plunger section.
 4. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said nozzle chamber has a lower portion and said spool control section has a lower portion adaptable for sealing engagement within said nozzle chamber lower portion.
 5. A pump as set forth in claim 4 in which said nozzle and said lower portion of said spool control section are provided with respective lower surfaces, and said lower portion is positioned in ealing engagement within said nozzle chamber lower portion so that said lower surfaces are at least nearly aligned with other thereby minimizing the surface from which product might drip.
 6. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said cooperating means also defines an enlarged orifice downstream of the restricted orifice for decreasing the velocity of the product as it emerges from the nozzle to minimize splashing.
 7. A pump as set forth in claim 1 in which said valve body includes a ubular sleeve positioned oaxially therein and enclosing the portion of said valve chamber upward of said cylinder-defining means from an upper portion thereof.
 8. An improved pump or discharging product from a product source comprising: a valve body provided with an internal chamber including a main portion and an outlet portion, said valve body also provided with inlet means communicating with said product source and opening into said main portion of said valve chamber; means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body and having one end communicating with said inlet means; a piston mounted for reciprocal movement in said cylinder between a first position spaced from said one end of said cylinder and a second position adjacent said one end of said cylinder; means defining a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion and having an internal chamber in axial alignment and communication with said main chamber portion, said nozzle chamber having upper And lower portions and an intermediate section separating said upper and lower portions, said nozzle chamber upper and lower portions respectively having first and second given internal diameters, said intermediate section enlarging outwardly from at least said lower portion to a diameter larger than said lowe portion at a point between said upper and lower portions; and a valve spool having a plunger at its lower end and mounted for reciprocal movement within said valve and nozzle chambers, said valve plunger having upper and lower portions and an intermediate section between said upper and lower portions, the lower plunger portion having a diameter such that it is slidable within at least the lower nozzle chamber portion, said intermediate section narrowing inwardly from at least said lower plunger portion a a point between aid upper and lower plunger portions to a diameter smaller than said nozzle chamber upper portion, said valve spool movement occuring between a lower position wherein said lower plunger portion is located within said lower nozzle portion in sealed relationship therewith, and a raised portion wherein said upper plunger portion is clear of said nozzle chamber upper portion, and said lower plunger portion is positioned clear of said nozzle chamber lower portion and immediately under said upper nozzle portion so that an annular space is formed between plunger and nozzle having a constricted section, and spool and said piston being reciprocated in timed relationship such that with th mvement of said piston away from said first chamber toward said first position, said plunger is in said lowered position to close said nozzle and said product flows into said cylinder, and with the movement of said piston toward said first chamber to said second position, said spool is in said raised position and said product is forced from said cylinder through said chambers to be discharged from said nozzle through said annular space, said product as it passes downwardly through said constricted section of said annular spac increasing in velocity, thereby preventing air bubbles from rising within the discharging product up into said first chamber and eliminating volume due to air within said chamber in the discharge volume variations due to air within said chamber in the discharged product.
 9. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which said lower portion and said intermediate section of said plunger is providyd with a pair of divider tabs extending outwardly from said intermediate section along a diameter even with th periphery of th plunger lower portion and extending upwardly from said lower portin, said divider tabs sealing with said upper chamber portion when said plunger is in its raised position to divide the outwardly flowing product so that it exhibits the cross-sectional configuration having the form of spaced semicircles.
 10. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which said intermediate nozzle chamber portion includes a cylindrical section between said upper and lowe rportions of diameter larger than said lower chamber portion, and in which said plunger intermediate section includes a cylindrical portion between said upper and lower plunger portions of a diameter smaller than said upper nozzle chamber portion.
 11. A pump as set forth in claim 8 in which the intermediate section of said upper and lower portions of said nozzle chamber and said plunger are of similar axial height, in which said lower plunge portion is of a smaller axial height than said intermediate nozzle chamber portion, and in which said upper nozzle chamber protion is of a smaller axial height than said intermediate plunger section.
 12. A pump for transferring pdoduct from a product source to a container comprising: a valve body having a product inlet communicating with said product source; a valve chamber within said body, said chamber having a product outlet portion, and said inlet opening into said chamber, means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body in communication with saiD chamber; a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder; means providing a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion of said chamber, said nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber, said nozzle chamber including an upper and a lower portion, and an intermediate section separating said upper and lower portions, said upper and lower portions being of a given diameter, and said section having a diameter greater than said given diameter; a control valve spool mounted for movement within said chambers between a first position and a second position, said spool including a control section movable from a position preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from lowing into the nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section including a plunger on the lower end thereof, said plunger having an upper and lower portion of diameter matching said given diameter and an intermediate section having at least one diameter smaller than that of said upper and lower plunger portions, with said plunger being lowered in said second spool position to sealingly engage said upper and lower plunger portions respectively within said upper and lower nozzle chamber portions, and with said plunger in said first spool position being raised so that said upper plunger portion clears said upper chamber portion and said lower plunger portion is positioned just below said upper chamber portion; the upper portion of said nozzle chamber cooperating with the plunger intermediate section of the control section of said spool to define a restricted orifice when said control spool is in the first position for increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product, with said spool being shifted in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber in a product intake stroke when said valve spool is in said first position, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in said second position.
 13. A pump for transferring product from a product source to a container cmprising: a valve body having a product inlet communicating with said product source; a outlet chamber within said body, said chamber having product means defining a cylinder extending outwardly from said valve body in communication with said chamber; a piston reciprocably mounted in said chamber; means providing a product discharge nozzle at said outlet portion of said chamber, said nozzle having an interior chamber aligned with and communicating with said valve chamber; xi control valve spool mounted for movement within said chambers between a first position and a second position, said spool including a control section movable from a position preventing product from flowing from said inlet to said cylinder in the first position of said valve spool while allowing product to flow from said cylinder outwardly of said valve chamber into said nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section being movable to a position allowing product to flow from said inlet into said cylinder in the second position of said valve spool while preventing product from flowing into the nozzle chamber through said nozzle, said control section including a cylindrical portion at the lower end threreof, said cylindrical control portion including a pair of divider tabs extending upwardly and along opposite ends of a diameter of the cylindrical portion, said tabs sealing with the wall of said nozzle chamber when said spool is in said first position to thereby divide the outwardly flowing product so that it eXhibits a cross-sectional configuration having the form of spaced semicircles; cooperating means on the control section of said spool and said nozzle chamber defining a restricted orifice when said control spool is in the first position for increasing the velocity of the product flow and for preventing air bubbles from rising upwardly in the product, with said spool being shifted in timed relationship with said piston so that said piston moves away from said valve chamber in a product intake stroke when said valve spool is in said first position, and said piston moves toward said valve chamber in a product discharge stroke when said valve spool is in said second position. 